Reading can help prepare you for your journey by providing inspiration or providing better insight into its people and places you will visit, be it fiction, non-fiction history books, biographies, travel memoirs or any combination thereof.
Europe stands out as a continent due to its vast cultural variety. A range of languages, contrasting religious practices, and diverse foods all co-existing peacefully are readily accessible here.
Climate
Europe’s climate is typically temperate, with the exception of northern Norway which experiences colder conditions. Snow-clad mountains and ski resorts provide plenty of skiing vacation opportunities, while most cities enjoy warm enough summer temperatures that allow beach holidays or city sightseeing trips.
The State of the Climate in Europe report (ESOTC) is published annually by ECMWF as part of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Union and other partners. This comprehensive publication covers issues such as rising temperatures both land and sea-side, heatwaves, extreme weather events, shifting precipitation patterns, retreating ice sheets and retreating snow cover.
European Climate Zones
The map above depicts Europe’s average annual temperatures by season: winter (purple), spring (blue), summer (yellow) and autumn (red). Individual climatic zones vary according to whether they lie north or south on the continent and their latitude.
Northern Europe’s climate is determined by the Atlantic Ocean and its northern coastline forms a sheltered basin with a moderate maritime climate, while its west coast is affected by Gulf Stream currents that bring continental-type weather patterns. Central and eastern Europe are largely affected by mountain ranges known as Alps which produce colder continental weather patterns while in southern Europe a Mediterranean climate reigns supreme, known for its hot dry summers with mild wet winters as well as being subject to monsoon influences that cause heavy downpours at certain times of year.
Languages
Europe is home to over 200 languages, which may not seem like much in comparison with some continents but is actually quite impressive when considering all their diversity. Europe’s abundance of dialects provides people a means of communicating across its boundaries while at the same time honoring its culture and history.
“English remains the dominant European language, but French and German are widely spoken too. Both belong to the Indo-European family of languages with roots in Proto-Indo-European believed to have come from Central Asia; Finnish, Estonian and Sami make up Uralic languages (the latter found across Northern Norway, Sweden Finland Russia (sometimes called Lapland)).
Many European languages first spread globally during the Age of Discovery when Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch sailors traveled across vast oceans colonizing indigenous peoples with their languages while colonializing distant regions themselves. Nowadays European nations and communities still collaborate on keeping their native tongue alive through educational programs and cultural initiatives to make sure even less-spoken ones will continue being heard for future generations.
Languages not only facilitate cross-cultural communications; they’re also invaluable tools for businesses looking to enter new markets. Milestone can assist companies by translating their products and services seamlessly into widely spoken European and global languages – helping promote growth while raising brand recognition.
Food
Europe’s diverse cultures and culinary histories have combined to produce an extensive food scene, offering something for every taste and budget. Travelers can discover everything from French pastries and Spanish tapas, to traditional Irish chowder, Italian gelato, and Austrian strudels – there is truly something here for every traveler to enjoy.
European cuisines are heavily influenced by both their original settlers and subsequent nations that have since adopted them, including those brought over during the Columbian Exchange which brought new ingredients such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, chocolate and bell peppers to Europe; and industrial food production which reduced costs and made eating regular diets of meats and grains simpler for people.
Due to their more temperate climates, many non-Mediterranean European countries often feature heartier and warming traditional foods in their cuisines. Meals typically focus on meats, breads, tubers and soups and many have extensive baking and pastry traditions; maize and rice appear less frequently – although still present – than their Mediterranean counterparts.
Though Mediterranean countries are well known for their fresh seafood fare, other European nations also boast exquisite regional cuisine – Ireland is famous for its smoked salmon and beef while Italy boasts some of the best pizza in the world.
Some areas in Europe are known for their signature desserts, like Sweden’s ‘pytte kavlen’ (cream cheese pancakes) and Latvian ‘rupjmaizes kartojums’ (rye bread trifle). European desserts tend to be lighter than American versions in terms of calories consumed and fruit and nuts included, plus preservative use is less prevalent compared with foods found here.
Culture
Europe boasts a remarkable variety of culture ranging from food to language to traditions that date back millennia, all the way through celebrations and traditions that help define each country. The European Union strives to honor and promote these diverse traditions through various events and awards such as designating two cities each year as European Capitals of Culture; this program gives these economies an economic boost while uniting people across different nations through cultural exchange. Another way in which culture is promoted by EU is via its UNESCO World Heritage Sites that showcase stunning architecture and rich heritage of each continent.
Culture and society factors have combined to form a complex portrait of European identity that continues to shift over time. Recent events, from terrorist attacks and anti-immigrant rhetoric, independence movements in Scotland and Catalonia, Brexit voting results, new waves of refugees arriving into Europe have all altered what defines European culture and identity.
Europe faces its own set of unique challenges, which makes the current environment particularly volatile. This Special Issue seeks to draw together and advance cross-cultural psychological theories about culture through empirically grounded studies in European contexts.
This Special Issue takes a varied approach to studying culture in Europe, from behavioral economics (such as consumer behaviors in European markets) and sociocultural comparisons of multiple countries to Big Data analytics, surveys, ethnographic participant-observation studies and social psychology experimentation. Contributions feature Big Data analytics, surveys, ethnographic participant observation studies as well as social psychology experimentation methods. Inspired by Gisela Brinker-Gabler who dedicated her career to including discussions of culture within European research studies this Special Issue represents her dedication toward providing evidence-based discussions of Europe’s diverse cultural(s).
History
Europe, despite being the second smallest continent, boasts an extraordinary and varied history that dates back millennia. Europe was home to Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Pope Saint Pius V; Vikings and heretics; crusades between France and Germany; war between France and Germany during industrial revolution; enlightenment, exploration. Furthermore, two world wars cost 8 million European lives while Holocaust claimed over 18 million.
Students studying European history take courses that range from broad survey lectures that provide an overview to focused seminar classes that allow for in-depth explorations of specific periods or subjects. Historians in this field are known for communicating complex ideas clearly and passionately.
Students need help understanding the immense difficulty associated with analyzing complex historical events and their repercussions in today’s society. They can bring together both the big picture and finer points; to balance competing issues such as economic development and cultural identity; and provide students with the context they need to understand the complex relationships among European nations. Working in European history can be both exciting and fulfilling, while developing a deep knowledge of its past can aid your ability to think globally and act accordingly. Europe (not to be confused with the European Union) boasts an abundance of land, sea and mineral resources; but its primary asset lies with its inhabitants: highly educated and talented individuals accustomed to life in bustling urban centers that serve as global trading and commerce hubs.